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Chang-Diaz featured at Hispanic heritage event
Special to the X-Press NASA Astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Diaz spoke at a luncheon in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 13 at Club Muroc. Since December 1993, Chang-Diaz has been the Director of the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center where he conducts research on plasma rockets. He became a NASA astronaut in August 1981. He has flown six Shuttle missions during which he logged more than 1,269 hours in space. During the event Chang-Diaz spoke about how at the age of seven he first had a blossoming interest in space exploration with the launching of Sputnik in October 1957. He stayed up at night to watch it and that's when he decided he wanted to be a space explorer. "My parents were most influential to me," said Chang-Diaz. He feels that he is preparing the space exploration field for those who are young now, so they can explore space safely. In addition to Chang-Diaz' speech at the Hispanic Heritage Luncheon, folkloric dancers Alegria en el Valle" (Happiness in the Valley) from Bakersfield also performed. Chang-Diaz was born in San Jose, Costa Rica, on April 5, 1950 and came to the United States in 1968. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1973 and a doctorate in applied plasma physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977. Chang-Diaz has also received many awards and medals including two NASA Distinguished Service Medals; three NASA Exceptional Service Medals; the Liberty Medal from former President Ronald Reagan; Medal of Excellence from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; and the Cross of the Venezuelan Air Force. He also worked as a house manager in an experimental community residence for de-institutionalizing chronic mental patients, and was an instructor/advisor with a rehabilitation program for Hispanic drug abusers in Massachusetts for 2-1/2 years. |
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Responsible NASA Official: John Childress For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group Page Curator:WD-Team Modified: October 28, 1999 |
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